First baseman Triston Casas’s title has been the topic of loads of commerce rumors this winter, whilst chief baseball officer Craig Breslow has roundly insisted that Casas shouldn’t be being shopped. With the Pink Sox apparently concerned within the markets for each Alex Bregman and Nolan Arenado, nonetheless, it’s not arduous to see how including one other bat to the infield might spell the top of Casas’s time in Boston.
For his half, the soon-to-be 25-year-old slugger isn’t letting the noise get to him. As famous by Christopher Smith of MassLive, Casas acknowledged the chance that he may very well be dealt if the suitable provide have been to come back alongside, including that for the suitable package deal it may very well be within the “finest curiosity” of the group to maneuver him or any participant. Casas added that he’s been assured by the group that there’s no substance behind rumors that he’s on the buying and selling block earlier than making clear that the rumors swirling round him this winter don’t hassle him.
“I like Boston,” Casas mentioned, as relayed by Smith. “I like every part about it they usually’ve welcomed me with open arms since my first first skilled day. So it could be nice to play right here so long as attainable. I like the followers they usually welcome me generously on a regular basis. So I’d like to play the remainder of my profession right here. But when it’s elsewhere, I simply really feel like March 28, regardless of the place it’s at, I’m going to be taking part in main league video games. So simply concentrate on that.”
Whereas he provides that he tries to not let the commerce rumors “get to his head,” he reiterated his love for Boston and want to remain within the group long-term. That affirmation comes practically a yr after reported extension talks between the 2 sides, although these discussions finally didn’t result in a deal. It seems there’s been no latest discussions about an extension, both, as Casas informed reporters (together with Rob Bradford of WEEI) in the present day whereas showing on the membership’s Fenway Fest occasion that the edges haven’t talked about an extension since final winter.
Even setting apart the commerce rumors, it’s not essentially a shock that Casas and the Pink Sox haven’t talked extension within the aftermath of the 2024 marketing campaign. In spite of everything, final yr was a tough one for Casas. He spent a lot of the season on the injured record as a result of torn cartilage in his ribcage and when wholesome sufficient to take the sector slashed simply .241/.337/.462 whereas putting out at a regarding 31.7% clip.
That manufacturing was nonetheless good for a 119 wRC+ general, however that’s a step again from the 130 he posted in 2023. After an injury-marred down season that uncovered a possible purple flag within the type of an elevated strikeout fee, the Pink Sox are certainly hoping to assemble extra details about each Casas and their outlook across the diamond earlier than committing to him long-term whereas Casas certainly is hoping to quell any doubts attributable to 2024 with a full, wholesome season earlier than he indicators a long-term deal.
Turning again to the potential of the Pink Sox pursuing Bregman or Arenado, the connection between these pursuits and the potential of a Casas commerce hinges on the potential of putting in both of these additions at third base, inflicting incumbent third baseman Rafael Devers to maneuver to 3rd base. Supervisor Alex Cora mentioned the potential of shifting Devers off the new nook at Fenway Fest in the present day, as famous by Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic. In response to Cora, the membership has not but mentioned a altering positions with Devers and that they might talk about the chance with him earlier than they get to the purpose of including a brand new third baseman to the lineup. That typically tracks with the feedback made by Breslow final month, which indicated the membership has no present plans to maneuver Devers off third base.
